In 2012 I was encouraged to get involved with NCADD-NJ by a
group of women who founded Parent To Parent in 1997. These women were pioneers when it came to
advocating as parents. They understood that the family’s voice was powerful in
creating change and encouraged me to speak out. They also recognized the power of many voices
coming together and the importance of messaging. They were courageous, kind and compassionate
but the stories showed strength and people listened.
“Our Stories Have Power” was the first training I attended
at NCADD-NJ. The room was filled with a combination of people in recovery and
family members. In some cases, they were there together which gave me hope for
my own son’s recovery. We learned
together and worked on writing our stories using language that seemed
uncomfortable at the time. I struggled to write my story even though I had
already been speaking out in my community. Years later, person first language is natural and
my story has evolved.
When an advocate becomes a team leader our work is
recognized by in a Joint Legislative Resolution addressed to the individual
advocate. In 2013, a mistake was made and all of the advocates’ names were on
one document. We were given individual Resolutions later but I love that all 39
are listed on the original Resolution. Many
are still very active in advocacy in one way or another. It’s a pretty
impressive list that shows the diversity of the NCADD-NJ advocates.
For years it was much easier and acceptable for families to
speak out about treatment, recovery support and stigma than for someone in
recovery to tell their story. Some continued to judge families but others felt
compassion and they were willing to listen. Fortunately the recovery community
has been empowered through advocacy work.
We welcome their voices and their stories but we cannot forget the power
of our own stories.
Families have their own experiences in discrimination,
isolation and a lack of access to resources and support. We also get well and
it’s important that we talk about our own challenges and path to recovery. It
can be uncomfortable and seem unnatural to talk about us but our stories make a
difference and many changes begin with a family member advocating for a
solution.
The very first legislation I advocated for was the Overdose
Prevention Act. Working with advocates
across the state on a bill that has literally saved thousands of lives in NJ
was life changing. Parents had a strong
voice in the fight for a law that may have saved their child or could save the
life of someone they love. Although all advocates worked on the legislation it
was a parent’s story that seemed to energize the bill. Even when the signing
was delayed, it was Bon Jovi, speaking out as a parent that pushed Governor
Christie to sign the bill into law without further delay.
“Our Stories Have
Power” training is now scheduled throughout NJ to make it easier to attend. I
encourage families to take advantage of the training. Learning how to tell our
own stories not only makes a difference but can help us in our own recovery.
Tonia Ahern
NCADD-NJ Advocacy Field Organizer
No comments:
Post a Comment